Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
I guess I'll be the dissenting voice here, as I don't care for that doublet.

It's got too many colours going on to suit me.

And it ignores the traditional colouring of doublets: in the 19th century military some doublets have everything all one colour (as in the solid Archer Green pipers' doublets) but if two colours are used the contrasting colour appears on the cuffs and standing collar, never on the tashes/flaps.

And to have parts of the tashes/flaps one colour, other parts another, looks even more odd to me.

It dates back to the history of military jackets, the cuffs being contrasting because they were turned up, revealing the colour of the jacket's lining material. The tashes/flaps were always reckoned as being part of the body of the doublet, and did not evolve as an underneath portion turned over to the outside. History aside, doublet makers have always seemed to respect these conventions so it jumps out when one tailor does not.

This making of various portions of a jacket different colours willy-nilly leads to stuff like this:

Too many colours? Three? Actually this doublet is nothing out of the ordinary. While having tashes and cuffs of a different colour from the body of the doublet may look odd to you, it certainly is a very traditional look found in many of the best bespoke jackets. I can assure you that my friend is quite the expert on "matters Scottish", as it puts it, and is known throughout the Highlands as a man of impeccible taste when it comes to his clothes.

You wrote: "History aside, doublet makers have always seemed to respect these conventions so it jumps out when one tailor does not." What do you base this statement on? Tailors do what their clients' request. My friend's tailor is reckoned as one of the best in bespoke Highland dress. This doublet was made by Meyer & Mortimer ( who took over William Jardine's , which WAS considered THE BEST by all who know about these things ). Nothing is "willy-nilly" about this doublet! The scarlet silk facings are indeed very traditional, especially when the doublet is worn with a Stewart tartan. Blue and green velvet in the same doublet is very attractive. I have seen many doublets that do this; in fact my grandfather had a similar doublet.

I don't think you appreciate the ethos of a well dressed Highland gentleman. Individual style is something to be praised, and not rejected haphazardly. While I respect your opinion and the fact that you personally do not like this doublet ( de gustibus non est disputandum ) I cannot let you get by and criticize it as untraditional or over-the-top. It most certainly is not!